Standing Watch for 241 Years

On November 10, Marines around the globe will commemorate the 241st birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The next day, Americans everywhere will pause to salute service members of all branches on Veterans Day.

For anyone who has served, it’s a reflective time of year. For Marines, in particular, we’re not just marking an occasion, we’re celebrating a way of life. One best summed up in two words: Semper Fidelis.

Our 26th Commandant, General Louis Wilson, once famously said, “What the Marine Corps becomes is what we make of it during our respective watches. And that watch of each Marine is not confined to the time he spends on active duty. It lasts as long as he is proud to bear the title of United States Marine.”

At the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, we know that watch extends not just beyond active duty, but beyond the uniform. With your support, our scholarships provide access to affordable education for the children of Marines and Navy Corpsman, easing financial burdens for Marine families in-need, and extending Corps values to a new generation of leaders raised on Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

As we salute the service of U.S. Marines and veterans everywhere, I invite you to take up your watch today, by joining our mission to Honor Marines by Educating Their Children.

Semper Fidelis,

Lieutenant General George J. Trautman, III USMC (Ret.)
Chairman